In a statement released by the agency’s Press Secretary, Aliyu Jamiu Amode, KWEPA expressed concern over environmental practices capable of increasing exposure to the viral haemorrhagic disease, which is commonly linked to rodent infestation and poor sanitation.
The agency’s General Manager, Jide Aina, explained that Lassa fever is primarily transmitted through contact with infected rodents or through the consumption of food contaminated by rodent urine or droppings. He stressed that food handlers play a pivotal role in protecting public health by ensuring that food is processed, stored, and sold under hygienic conditions.
Garri processing factories and other food production facilities were directed to store raw materials and finished products in rodent-proof containers at all times. Aina also emphasised the importance of maintaining clean processing environments, sanitising equipment regularly, and disposing of waste properly to prevent attracting rodents.
Street food vendors were specifically cautioned against unsafe practices such as displaying food on bare ground, roadsides, or other exposed surfaces. The agency advised vendors to keep food covered, maintain personal hygiene, wash hands frequently with soap and clean water, and dispose of refuse responsibly rather than dumping waste in drainage systems or open public spaces.
According to Aina, maintaining clean surroundings around business premises, using potable water for food preparation, and ensuring proper handling and disposal of packaging materials are essential preventive measures against the disease.
KWEPA announced plans to intensify routine inspections and enforcement operations across the state. Defaulters, the agency warned, would face penalties in accordance with environmental health laws.
“Ensuring proper hygiene and waste management is not optional; it is essential to protecting lives. Together, we can drastically reduce the risk of Lassa fever and promote a healthier Kwara State,” Aina stated, calling on residents and food business operators to demonstrate collective responsibility in maintaining environmental cleanliness.
Meanwhile, the Kwara State Government has dismissed recent social media claims alleging that corps members at the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) Orientation Camp in the state died from Lassa fever.
In a statement issued on Tuesday and signed by the Ministry of Health’s Press Secretary, Saad Hamdalat, the government said the state’s Rapid Response Team (RRT), led by the State Epidemiologist, investigated the rumours after they surfaced on February 8 and found no evidence of transmission or confirmed cases at the camp.
The NYSC State Coordinator, Olaoluwa Onifade, further clarified that the corps member referenced in the online reports had a pre-existing chronic illness and died at a health facility outside the orientation camp. He noted that there was no laboratory confirmation linking the death to Lassa fever.
Authorities reiterated that surveillance and preventive measures remain in place, urging the public to rely on verified information and comply with health and environmental guidelines to prevent disease outbreaks.